Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed

Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.

The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.

The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.

The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.

The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.

The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Sea World employees stand in front of a locked gate leading to a bridge to the entrance of the Shamu Stadium after an incident involving the death of a trainer in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.

SeaWorld guests watch dolphins swim in a pool in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. A killer whale killed a SeaWorld Orlando trainer who slipped or fell in its tank Wednesday, drowning her in front of a horrified audience.

In this Friday, May 13, 2005 file photo provided by SeaWorld, actress Evangeline Lilly, from the ABC television show "Lost", plays with Shamu, at SeaWorld Orlando, in Orlando, Fla. An employee at SeaWorld Orlando has died after being attacked by a killer whale Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.

The entrance to SeaWorld is seen after an incident involving the death of a trainer at the park in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. The park remained open and only the area where the incident occurred was closed off to guests.

Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.

Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.